Chapter One Hundred and Nine - Puppet Knox

Basil got a text message, read it, "I've got a call to make. Be right back?" he says walking off his eyes on his phone.

Always on the alert, these days, I know something's up, because Adian didn't returned to finish his dinner either.

Mel and I watched Basil walk off, "something happened" she says softly, observing her boyfriends sudden change.

Shaking my head, agreeing with her, "and guess whose going to be the last to know?" I asked, already aware of the answer.

I stared clearing the table, dumping Adian's uneaten dinner.

Mel brought her dishes to help but I need to be on my own right now, to dwell on today.

Being a shareholder of Knights Foundation is bigger than being part owner of Sullaknights!

I put my hand out to stop Mel as she started washing the dishes, "hey, go take a shower and relax, I'll handle this and then we can discuss what tomorrow holds over glass of wine." I took the plate from her hands, shooing her away.

Mel stood for awhile, "okay" she reluctantly agrees, heading out.

I realize there's so much happening in my life! So much changes, that I can't keep up with, plus the mysteries surrounding my family and their link to the Knights other than the affair between Ameila and my father.

Most important, why didn't Mr. Knox register my marriage.

The kitchen was cleaned and I stood staring, because I was so lost in thoughts that I automatically did what needed to be done.

Throwing the dishtowel on the counter, I decided to search for Adian and his sidekick.

Since no was around, I Knocked on his closed office door, a space I didn't just venture into when I first came here.

After two knocks, I opened the door when I didn't hear an answer, thinking no one was inside, but just double checking because they weren't around..

"Hey!" I said, to the three pair of eyes staring back at me.

Adian and Basil seemed calm, but Mel sat nervously in Basil's arm.

Concern, I walked further into the office without receiving an invitation.

"Hey!" I said again but this time to Mel.

Everyone remained silent, making me feel like an intruder.

Spinning on my heels, "sorry" I briskly walked out apologizing for intruding.

No one called after me, not even Adian. My normal way of handling rejection, is a bottle of wine and running away, but tonight I'm just going to do the wine..

Sitting on the veranda, outside the kitchen, on one of the comfortable two seated couch, with my legs sprawled off, I decided to call Mr. Knox.

I got up and shut the door behind me, so that no one intrudes on my private conversation.

Mr. Knox: "Hailey, I was wondering, when I would hear from you"

So he was waiting on my call, but has been invisible since Adian and I first got married. What's his deal and is Amelia pulling his strings.

Me: "I'm giving you one last chance, to tell me the truth" I retorted abruptly.

Mr. Knox: "I'm listening"

Me: "First, why wasn't Adian and my marriage registered?"

Mr. Knox: "Hailey, I don't control your situation, please understand..."

I cut him across.

Me: "I have been remembering a lot about my past and right now, I have lost all trust in you" I was quick to tell him "and if you don't answer me truthfully, we're really done and I will handle everything concerning my life and my future on my own." I retorted firmly, hoping to scare him into admitting the truth to me.

Mr. Knox: "Hailey, [lease, this can be handle better than this, I promise you that I am on your side and seeking your interest is my first priority."

Me: "Once I believed you, but since Ameila seems to be pulling your strings.... I don't know, things seems different to me."

Mr. Knox: "Ameila Knights isn't pulling my strings as you call it and she wasn't the one who compelled me to hold off on registering your marriage."

Me: "Then tell me who is it and why?"

Mr. Knox: "Who, I am not a liberty to disclose, but why? They didn't think that Adian is good enough for you, in fact your father had someone else in mind for you, but in the end, who chose Adian."

Me: "My father? My father didn't even know who was good enough for him and now, I can honestly say, that my father was a f*** up."

Mr. Knox: "HAILEY!"

Smiling, finally getting his attention and as much as I don't want to, he has given me no options. I will get to the bottom of this mystery and having my mother's murderer pay, is just the beginning.

Me: "Thank you, for everything Mr. Knox, but the time has come for us to part ways and if the person, who thought that Adian's good enough for me, then they should have spoken before I met him!"

Without waiting for an answer, I hung up, powering off the phone at the same time.

Amelia wants Adian and Amelia wants my money, but I am determined from this moment to keep my husband close at all times and having a baby is a good start to solidifying this arrangement.

Jumping off the sofa, "time for my hubby to get me pregnant." I sang, stopping, I sat down, thinking about the past few days, since Adian and I have been... Oh my God, he didn't use a condom and I wasn't accustom to sex, so I wasn't on the pill.

I look at the bottle of wine, then touch my belly, "is it possible?" I whispered. "Would Adian be happy with a baby, from me?" Covering my face, all of my recent thought going out the window, I was planning to get pregnant to keep Adian with me to keep his mother away, but now, it could be a possibility?

I'm not ready!